National coach Jong Uichico and assistants Nash Racela and Allan Gregorio plot the Gilas team's preparations for its SEA Games title defense in Myanmar. Dante Peralta

THE men’s basketball team bound for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar is set to go full blast in its preparations by playing a series of tune-up games and scrimmages against PBA D-League squads.

National coach Jong Uichico said they will begin playing tune-up games on Thursday to be able to simulate team play after holding practices on their own for two weeks.

“We will be able to find out if we are doing it right through scrimmages and playing with someone else,” said Uichico, after Tuesday night’s practice at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Uichico said they will seek to play more tune-up games after the men’s team plays Cebuana Lhuillier on Thursday night.

“We are trying to get more D-League teams to play us,” said Uichico.

The SEA Games team that will compete on December 8 to 16 in Naypidaw is composed of naturalized player Marcus Douthit, Gilas cadets Kevin Alas, Jake Pascual, Ronald Pascual, Garvo Lanete, and Matt Ganuelas, and college stars Bobby Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Ferrer, Jericho Cruz, Prince Caperal, and Mark Belo.

Roi Sumang and Fil-American Richard Smith have also been inserted in the SEA Games lineup as reserves, having also joined team practices.

Uichico said the coaching staff that also includes Nash Racela, Josh Reyes, and Allan Gregorio is in the process of finding out each players’ roles and positions.

“We have to put them in the right spots. May mga multiple positions so we are trying to put them in different spots where they can maximize their talent,” said Uichico.